Regeneration players and coastal networks

Nobody is solely responsible for coastal regeneration – a nebulous and all-embracing term that means different things to different organisations at different times. The burden for leading on coastal regeneration is chiefly borne by local government as the democratically elected upholder of the common good for their area. However, there are a range of other local, regional and national organisations and interest groups that contribute directly and indirectly to some aspect of coastal regeneration.

This chapter reviews the coastal regeneration ‘industry’ by outlining the roles of local government, regional bodies and departments of state, before listing some of the interest groups concerned with coastal issues and whose enthusiasms and resources could be further harnessed to enhance coastal well-being and ‘regeneration’.

Before outlining the players there are issues about the regeneration concept that are particularly relevant to coastal resorts. Firstly, the objectives and outcomes of regeneration activity can be difficult to assess. For many practitioners and funding organisations, regeneration is exclusively about economic growth, with the expectation that success will address deprivation issues. However, a recent review of the 25 years of coalfield regeneration activity claimed success for developing industrial land and creating some employment opportunities, but the communities have not being regenerated and deprivation was still depressingly high. (Regenerating the English Coalfields.HC 84, Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General,Session 2009-2010.Author: National Audit Office (NAO) Publisher: TSO (The Stationery Office)) The coast, too, reflects this situation where – despite years of national growth – deprivation remains stubbornly unchanged

The term needs unpacking from being an all-embracing palliative for complex social and economic issues and there is national confusion as to whether regeneration resources should be focused upon economic opportunity or community need. Prior to the current recession much of national policy was beginning to focus upon worklessness and its causes, an important coastal resort issue, but circumstances have diverted attention and reducing resources to supporting existing financial institutions, businesses and maintaining employment. While breeze-block regeneration can be bought, the building blocks that change community values, aspirations and spirits may not be achievable with the same regeneration ‘package’. Decoupling ‘economic growth’ regeneration from deprivation regenerationmay be a new start, particularly on the coast, where the deprivation needs may be greater than the economic opportunity.

Notwithstanding the ambiguity about the term ‘regeneration’ and given the problems of coastal resorts and the emotive energy that the coastline generates, it should be no surprise to learn that there is an army of national, regional and local departments, authorities, organisations, networks, partnerships and acronyms involved or concerned with promoting, preserving, protecting and/or regenerating some aspects of our coastal resorts and their communities.

The latest members of the acronym club are the XDWGCT and the RDA Coastal Network, who join the LGA Coastal SIG, the CCA, BRADA, BURA, CoastNet, IDeA and CABE, among many others, whose status, influence and objectives can confuse even seasoned coastal practitioners. Some of the activities of these bodies are listed below and in Chapter 15, while a more comprehensive and updatable list appears on the website. Harnessing the skills, energy and resources (if any!) of these organisations behind new visions for resorts presents an important opportunity and challenge for the “industry”.

We start our review of coastal players down on the promenade, where buffeted local authorities seeks to contain the tide of coastal issues. We then move inland to the regional foothills of strategy and funding streams, before heading for the capital hill of policymaking and perceived coastal detachment.